Family of four displaced after fire rips through their Monticello home

Wednesday

Jan 30, 2013 at 1:41 PMJan 30, 2013 at 1:44 PM

By Victor Whitman

MONTICELLO — A family of four was displaced Wednesday in a morning fire that ripped through a home off Southwoods Drive in the village.

Firefighters were called to 231 Price St. just before 9 a.m. and found a two-story home in flames, Monticello Fire Chief Marc Friedland said.

Friedland said the homeowners and two small children had left shortly before the fire broke out. A neighbor called 911.

One of the family cats died in the fire. A dog and another cat escaped, Friedland said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. It appears to have started on the first story near the rear of the home.

Firefighters had the blaze under control within an hour. The home is still standing but the fire heavily damaged the entire interior of the home. The Red Cross has offered assistance to the family. Firefighters from Rock Hill, Forestburgh and Kauneonga Lake assisted.

Krissy Gallet, owner of the Dutch’s Tavern, said she has already started collecting money at the bar and restaurant in Rock Hill so the family can buy emergency supplies. She said the homeowners, Mike and Sabrina Decker, and their two children, ages 6 and 8, lost everything. Dutch’s will also collect clothing for the kids once their sizes are known.

“Whatever they had on their backs when they walked out this morning is what they have got,” she said.